For myself, getting a doc to test for a UTI meets resistance. No idea why. I’m in a relatively progressive and sane area for med care and it’s not an insurance thing, as other tests are run without hesitation.
I want to note that, anecdotally, friends and I who’ve dealt with elders feel that, after age 80 or so, anything can happen. For some, maybe it’s mid or later 80s, but resistence and recovery are impaired. It’s tough, but how one was, say, last month, isn’t predictive. We need to be aware of that, both as care overseers and when dealing with our own emotions.
Hugs
The neurologist my mom saw (who was also in charge of palliative care at the hospital) told us that for most elderly patients there will be recovery after a hospitalization, but usually not to where they were prior.
It was true for mom. My in-laws, though are fairly stable although in poor health
My dad’s health went downhill sharply after he turned 80. He had several serious illnesses before dying at age 84, one month after a massive stroke. My mom is 89, still working part time, but definitely hobbled by arthritis, which is exacerbated by her weight. She has had and fully recovered from two surgeries in her 80s.
Regarding UTIs: My mother has had repeated bouts of UTIs. She will start to see things that aren’t there. This UTI symptom is confusing since she also has macular degeneration. With macular degeneration, she often sees vines growing up the walls or when we’re driving thinks we are driving into brick walls. The difference in these symptoms is that with seeing things that aren’t there due to the macular degeneration, she realizes that there really aren’t vines growing up her walls for instance. With the UTI, she doesn’t realize what she is doing or saying.
(From what I understand with macular degeneration caused hallucinations, the brain is trying to fill in the blanks of what the eyes are not seeing).
My mother takes a low dose antibiotic as a preventative for the UTIs. She doesn’t drink enough because she already has to go the bathroom often and she has difficulty getting on and off the toilet. She’s in assisted living.
Keep your thigh muscles in good strong shape. I’ve read that the inability to get on or off the toilet is the main reason people go to assisted living or nursing homes.
Good for you, HouseChatte, in writing up your mom’s experience. There are many stories of this sort, and things can turn around, sometime 100%. Your support in this process was probably key, in many ways.
Veruca, make sure you mom’s nutrition is optimal, she is hydrated, her meds are not causing confusion, and that she is not too isolated.
Last year I wrote up some of my mom’s experiences with elevated calcium levels, then pneumonia and finally a possible stroke. Each hospitalization was followed by rehab Since that time she is back with my sister, functioning capably at home, and sometimes we have great, nuanced conversations. Other times, when she is tired, or having an off day, I think that we are rapidly loosing her to dementia. Though I should know this stuff (hospital RN) I am shocked at how my perceptions change so rapidly day to day. She lives many states distant.
My ex’s dad is now in the hospital with an infection, possibly e coli, possibly related to lack of good hygiene and cleanliness on my ex’s part. Any prevention suggestions that I could kindly relay to him?
@rosered55 - what do you mean by “prevention”? To avoid exH getting infected? I’d also make sure they are clear on what the infection is, and that it is not C Diff or could turn into C Diff.
By prevention, I mean something similar happening again. Thank you for the tip about making sure they know what the infection is. I will communicate with him about that tonight.
Ah, I see. I am guessing the old hand washing and good toilet hygiene. I’d also think you should launder the towels and bed linens in hot water and Lysol wipe the doorknobs etc. If it is e coli, a dirty hand could be spreading it to all the hard surfaces.
Does she have a UTI caused by E. coli? If so, someone has to make certain that she wipes herself from front to back carefully and is absolutely clean. She may have to use baby wipes. And yes, the bathroom, handles, etc. needs to be scrubbed down thoroughly.
It is not a UTI. It is a bloodstream infection caused by E. coli. My ex has to take his mom (who has Alzheimer’s disease) to the toilet and sometimes she has accidents, in bed or in the bathroom. His dad is the one with the E. coli-caused infection. Dad has not had a bladder since 2000; he pees into a bag. I think my ex helps with the changing of the bag.
Well, tomorrow, my folks sign final papers and make full payment for their SR community and move in. I’m hoping they love it as much as my older sister believes they will. They definitely can’t continue to live in their current HUGE (poorly maintained) house and this place will offer a lot of options and many of the friends they’ve known for decades.
My Mom is struggling a little with her I-phone. She did pretty well with it before. Wondering about getting a land line again for her. She is in a apartment complex. Does anyone have any thoughts? I thought we would give it some more time to see if she improves before we take action.
Are there such things as senior rates for land lines? Is it better to go with the cable provider or the phone company? I haven’t had a land line in years and I am a bit out of touch
Good point -I was just assuming that would be easier -but it may not. I know this sounds ridiculous -but I had forgotten she would have to remember how to dial a number. Like I said -it has been a while
@veruca I would consider one of those phones made for the elderly, either cell or land line. I kept a landline for my folks as there was no wway they could keep track of the location and minutes for the cell phone. No way could they learn to use a smart phone.
As to my dad, anyone have advice about a demented person eating things? Like beads and even small nails he found on a picture frame? He tried to eat his clip on glasses the other day. It’s really that he doesn’t recognize food vs other. I understand the small beads for crafts as they can look like candy. But knowing what objects are is really getting to be a problem. I didn’t realize this reverting to the oral phase again.